Q about kids and emergencies

I was wondering how it works in the middle of the night if you have an emergency and need an ambulance but are alone with toddlers. If you have no family who can take them, would they allow them on to the ambulance or what would they do? TIA (thanks in advance)

Comments (13)

That is different at every hospital from what I was told. Some, allow the child there until you are in active labor, but if they aren't old enough to be on their own (usually around 8+), then they can't even go sit in the waiting room while you push. And during flu season, a lot of hospitals lock things down, no kids. If you only have one kid that you can hold, then they might let them ride in the ambulance, but that will be about it. I feel like they would be more likely to just deliver the baby at home and then transport if at all possible. And really, do you really want to have to deal with an ambulance fee just to get to the hospital?

Plan ahead. Find someone you can wake up in the middle of the night to watch your kids until morning when someone else can take over, who can drive you to the hospital. Don't leave the risk to fall on the EMTs and Nurses when you have months to plan ahead. In the meantime, call your hospital and ask for their policies on it. If it's a true emergency, you need to know what will happen, but plan things out and don't fall back on that.

--

"I would laugh if it weren't so damn... is there a word for a mix of pathetic and crazy? Craythetic?" - sittingonlaurels

Coming up with a plan is always best but it sounds like you're worried about a good back up plan. I would check with the hospital and local ambulance squad about their policies.

A few years ago when I was having a miscarriage (very heavy bleeding), police officers noticed me in distress while driving. They escorted me to the hospital and looked after my daughter (under 1 yr) until my husband met us there. We then had another family member come to pick her up and take her home.

That's the only experience I've had so far. I've made 2 trips to the ER this pregnancy but my husband was present for both.

That is different at every hospital from what I was told. Some, allow the chi...

Posted
09/25/2018

That is different at every hospital from what I was told. Some, allow the child there until you are in active labor, but if they aren't old enough to be on their own (usually around 8+), then they can't even go sit in the waiting room while you push. And during flu season, a lot of hospitals lock things down, no kids. If you only have one kid that you can hold, then they might let them ride in the ambulance, but that will be about it. I feel like they would be more likely to just deliver the baby at home and then transport if at all possible. And really, do you really want to have to deal with an ambulance fee just to get to the hospital?

Plan ahead. Find someone you can wake up in the middle of the night to watch your kids until morning when someone else can take over, who can drive you to the hospital. Don't leave the risk to fall on the EMTs and Nurses when you have months to plan ahead. In the meantime, call your hospital and ask for their policies on it. If it's a true emergency, you need to know what will happen, but plan things out and don't fall back on that.

I should've been more specific but it's actually in case of a huge, sudden emergency.

I have placenta previa and accreta, was told by my obgyn not to ever go to my nearest er which is down the street but instead to one that is half an hour away.

I have an MRI tomorrow and if it's invading the bladder or too deep into the uterus muscle I'm gonna be transferred over there anyway with a team of experts on placenta accreta. The dr is worried for me to ever be alone and kept repeating the importance of having ppl around in case of emergency because my accreta is very serious according to the ultrasounds.

I already received 2 celestone injections for the baby's lungs and my MFM recommended delivery at 34-36 weeks as of the 4th ultrasound. But according to the obgyn it's way worse than they initially suspected. Luckily my MRI is tomorrow and I see my OB Monday for the results. He already called the other hospital for my transfer.

Coming up with a plan is always best but it sounds like you're worried ab...

Posted
09/25/2018

Coming up with a plan is always best but it sounds like you're worried about a good back up plan. I would check with the hospital and local ambulance squad about their policies.

A few years ago when I was having a miscarriage (very heavy bleeding), police officers noticed me in distress while driving. They escorted me to the hospital and looked after my daughter (under 1 yr) until my husband met us there. We then had another family member come to pick her up and take her home.

That's the only experience I've had so far. I've made 2 trips to the ER this pregnancy but my husband was present for both.

Oh ok wow, good thing they were near. And yeah exactly I meant like a backup plan. Especially cause I have a 3.5 yr old and 1.5 yr old and the hospital is about 30-35 mins away. I thought I was supposed to go to the one here down the street which is where I was going to deliver but he said to absolutely not go there.

I should've been more specific but it's actually in case of a huge, s...

Posted
09/28/2018

I should've been more specific but it's actually in case of a huge, sudden emergency.

I have placenta previa and accreta, was told by my obgyn not to ever go to my nearest er which is down the street but instead to one that is half an hour away.

I have an MRI tomorrow and if it's invading the bladder or too deep into the uterus muscle I'm gonna be transferred over there anyway with a team of experts on placenta accreta. The dr is worried for me to ever be alone and kept repeating the importance of having ppl around in case of emergency because my accreta is very serious according to the ultrasounds.

I already received 2 celestone injections for the baby's lungs and my MFM recommended delivery at 34-36 weeks as of the 4th ultrasound. But according to the obgyn it's way worse than they initially suspected. Luckily my MRI is tomorrow and I see my OB Monday for the results. He already called the other hospital for my transfer.

I just got to thinking cause my husband works at night.

From this scenario, they will let you take your toddler in the ambulance with the understanding that your husband will meet you at the hospital to assume care of your toddler until someone else can take them.

--

BF/CD Momma. American living part-time in Canada and part-time in Mexico

I should've been more specific but it's actually in case of a huge, s...

Posted
09/28/2018

I should've been more specific but it's actually in case of a huge, sudden emergency.

I have placenta previa and accreta, was told by my obgyn not to ever go to my nearest er which is down the street but instead to one that is half an hour away.

I have an MRI tomorrow and if it's invading the bladder or too deep into the uterus muscle I'm gonna be transferred over there anyway with a team of experts on placenta accreta. The dr is worried for me to ever be alone and kept repeating the importance of having ppl around in case of emergency because my accreta is very serious according to the ultrasounds.

I already received 2 celestone injections for the baby's lungs and my MFM recommended delivery at 34-36 weeks as of the 4th ultrasound. But according to the obgyn it's way worse than they initially suspected. Luckily my MRI is tomorrow and I see my OB Monday for the results. He already called the other hospital for my transfer.

I just got to thinking cause my husband works at night.

I would talk to your neighbors. Find someone who will come over and stay with your kids until DH (dear husband) can be home. I would have DH (dear husband) put his work on notice in case you call 911 and he needs to leave ASAP.

Also, I think an ambulance is required to take you to the nearest hospital. So if you need to go to a further hospital I think you need to uber or find a ride.

I would talk to your neighbors. Find someone who will come over and stay with...

Posted
09/28/2018

I would talk to your neighbors. Find someone who will come over and stay with your kids until DH put his work on notice in case you call 911 and he needs to leave ASAP.

Also, I think an ambulance is required to take you to the nearest hospital. So if you need to go to a further hospital I think you need to uber or find a ride.

They have to take you to the closest APPROPRIATE hospital. For instance, I live 3 minutes from a hospital. If I go into labor at any gestation less than 35 weeks, they are going to bring me 25 minutes further away to the closest hospital with a NICU. They have to bring me to the hospital that can treat me under whatever given circumstances, not the closest.

It might vary where you’re at so I would verify with your local ambulance stations but around here they will transport a child with you if need be to the hospital. A police officer will also stay with the child at your residence if you have a family member enroute to pick up the child.

Around here they will also take you to whatever hospital you request (within reason) unless you’re a trauma patient. In that case they will take you to the closest hospital that can accommodate a trauma patient.

They have to take you to the closest APPROPRIATE hospital. For instance, I li...

Posted
09/28/2018

They have to take you to the closest APPROPRIATE hospital. For instance, I live 3 minutes from a hospital. If I go into labor at any gestation less than 35 weeks, they are going to bring me 25 minutes further away to the closest hospital with a NICU. They have to bring me to the hospital that can treat me under whatever given circumstances, not the closest.

She should still check. Just because her OB believes the closer hospital is not appropriate, doesn’t mean the ambulance will agree.

Either way, just something OP (original poster) should confirm before calling an ambulance.

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